Ashes of A Broken Home: A Play

By Kenechukwu Obi

Ashes of A Broken Home is a play in which tragedy and conflict are exploited to provide entertainment and comic relief for audiences.  This is a play that is centred on the polygamous family unit, which is common in Africa. 
Though the play is rooted in African background – Nigerian setting and culture, it very much has universal themes people of different cultures and background can understand and relate to.

• Language: English
• Publisher: KenWrites
• Release date: Apr 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9791221325034

Book preview

ASHES OF A BROKEN HOME

A PLAY

BY

KENECHUKWU OBI

CAST

Bala – A carpenter

Ugomma – Bala’s first wife

Hauwa – Bala’s second wife

Sule – a teacher, Bala’s childhood friend

Li

Faku                              Hauwa’s children

Jelili

Ugo

Ada                               Ugomma’s children

Chinwe

Sango

Gamblers

Trader

Ugomma’s people            Father, Mother, elders of her land with an

Interpreter

Bala’s Neighbours

Native Doctor

Flute player

A Drummer

SCENE ONE

THE STAGE REVEALS NOTHING BUT DARKNESS, IN WHICH SILENCE PREVAILS. THE SOFT THROBS OF A DRUM GRADUALLY COME ON, DIFUSSING THE EARLIER SILENCE, AND CREATES AN EXPECTANT ATMOSPHERE.  A VOICE RISES THROUGH THE THROBS AND BELLOWS YES!  WE ARE ALL GATHERED!  HERE WE ARE TO SEE THIS HOME.  HERE WE COME, BALA.  ARE YOU THERE?

DRUMMING AND VOICE SUDDENLY FIZZLE AWAY AS SPOTLIGHT ILLUMINATES THE STAGE, REVEALING A TYPICAL MORNING IN BALA’S HOUSE.  IT CONSISTS OF A LITTLE ROOM THAT SERVES AS THE SITTING ROOM.  IT CONTAINS A MAT AT ITS CENTRE AND TWO WOODEN CHAIRS.  THIS SITTING ROOM LEADS INTO TWO OTHER ROOMS, ONE SERVING AS THE KITCHEN AND THE OTHER, BEDROOM FOR BALA AND HIS FAMILY.  THE SITTING ROOM ALSO HAS A TABLE BY THE RIGHT, FLANKED ON TWO SIDES BY OTHER TWO WOODEN CHAIRS.

BALA ENTERS THE SITTING ROOM FROM THE BEDROOM WITH A HAMMER ON HIS RIGHT HAND AND A CHISEL ON HIS LEFT.  HE YAWNS AND QUICKLY PUTS UP A GRIM FACE.

BALA

Where are these women?  My wives! {STARING ROUND THE ROOM} Does this mean I won’t have anything for breakfast, or I do need a ticket to have it?  Is this their brand new game?  {BALA SITS DOWN AND CALLS ON HIS WIVES} Hauwa! Hauwa! Ugomma! Ugomma!  {BOTH WIVES ARE HEARD AS THEY ANSWER FROM WITHIN.  UGOMMA FIRST ENTERS THE SITTING ROOM}

UGOMMA

{RESPECTFULLY} Here I am, my husband.

BALA

Yes.  Sit down.  And where is Hauwa?  What is keeping her in there?

UGOMMA

{FEELING UNCONCERNED} I don’t know.  {UGOMMA GETS SEATED AS HAUWA ENTERS}.

BALA

{TO HAUWA. THUNDERS) What kept you waiting, woman?

HAUWA

{APPOLOGETICALLY} Sorry, my husband.  I was settling a quarrel between two of my children.

BALA

{THUNDERS} Hence forth, my calls must be answered at the speed of light!

HAUWA

Sorry, my husband.

{HAUWA SITS ON THE MAT AND WATCHES BALA WHO QUICKLY CLEARS HIS THROAT AND RESUMES SPEAKING}.  {LOOKS IN UGOMMA’S DIRECTION, DROPS HIS TOOLS} Must I ring a bell before I have my breakfast in this house? Here I am, ready for work. Ready to go and make money.  But no food to stop the riot of hunger on-going in my stomach.  {BALA YAWNS AND TURNS TO HAUWA} {BELLOWS} What is happening? Where is my breakfast? Has the devil operating in both of you commanded that I should be starved?  I need quick answers!  Is Bala no longer entitled to breakfast in his own house?

HAUWA

No

UGOMMA

It is not so, my husband.

BALA

{CUTS IN} Which one is it?  {WARNS} Look! I am sick and completely tired of your… {POINTS AT BOTH HAUWA AND UGOMMA} strategy of silence and few words.  I must dig to the foundation of this problem.  Or are both of you now waiting for me to start cooking my own meals in this house?  {LAUGHS OUT LOUD) You have both failed if that is your plan.  That will never work here.  Never! Not in my house! I never for one day saw my late father cook for any of his ten wives.

HAUWA

{STARES MISCHEVIOUSLY AT UGOMMA} I thought this wicked woman was to serve you food today. {UGOMMA’S STRUGGLES WITH HER TEMPER AS HAUWA SPEAKS} I do not intend to starve you.  It is her fault.

UGOMMA

{SPRINGS UP AND EXPLODES} Whose fault? {TO BALA WHO WATCHES} Don’t mind this lazy thing.  {TURNS TO HAUWA AGAIN} You have no